Evolution / Genetics / Biology

'Palaeolithic Venus' discovered in Russia

A stunning 23,000-year-old 'Venus' has been discovered in the Bryansk region of Russia, say scientists. The Palaeolithic beauty was carved from woolly mammoth tusk and shows a 'fantastically delicate' prehistoric woman.

The 23,000-year-old 'Venus' statue [Credit: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography]

The rare find was made in the Bryansk region of Russia. Dr Konstantin Gavrilov, who led the expedition that discovered it.

"This statuette pictures a rather portly woman, but it looks fantastically delicate, probably due to the long and thin legs," enthused the scientist, from the Stone Age department of Moscow's Archaeology Institute.

The exceptionally rare Venus is made from 'a mammoth tusk [Credit: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography]

It appeared to depict a "cult of fertility", said Dr Gavrilov, but then indicated this was impossible since it predated the existence of agriculture.

The 'Venus' is made from "mammoth tusk and it portrays a fat, maybe
pregnant woman, with a big belly and bust," he said. "Part of the bust
and belly has peeled off, along a natural crack in the tusk.
But the rear view remains intact from 23,000 years ago."

Front and rear views of the 23,000-year-old 'Venus' statue [Credit: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography]

"The figurine was found near large limestone layers and parts of mammoth bones that were painted with a mineral sienna paint. Most likely, the statuette was put next to the bones on the ground rather than 'buried' like other 'Venuses'' found in Russia."

"Most experts believed such prehistoric statuettes are 'ceremonial' and 'ritual' objects", he said. "Other 'Venuses' have been found in Russia, notably near Lake Baikal in
Siberia, but on closer inspection some of these were, in fact, clothed."

The site where the figurine was found [Credit: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography]

The latest find was made among bones of mammoths, bison, and flint stones in a 23,000 year old layer at archaeological site Khotylyovo-2.